FINALLY in France!

OH YEAH, we are in France. Finally. On the way to the airport in Toronto Thursday, we were thinking that everything was set. The woman who supposedly booked our flights the night before (Margo-- now known as incompetent customer service woman #3) did not, in fact, actually book our flights. Well, she booked Ashley and Whitney, but not me and Alex... so when we got to the airport, we found this out. Alex nearly had a panic attack. But the woman at the desk was helpful for once, and she booked our flights for us. FOR REAL this time.

So me and Alex were put on standby... ABSURD! Mild freak out. As the plane boarded, we were on the verge of tears... until the very end, when almost everyone had boarded... and they called our names! AND we got seats next to each other. After that, it was smooth sailing until Paris. The flight was great, very comfortable, and I got to watch Avatar.

But the rest of the day was hellish. When we got off the plane, we got all the luggage, then found tickets into Paris. Turns out it was the Metro, which didn't seem too bad (we couldn't find the bus??). We figured out the route OK and got on the right lines, but it was pretty tough lugging our heavy bags up and down and up and down when we had to transfer.

We eventually made it to the Montparnasse station, and after a few hours of waiting in the cold (the station is open to the outside) we got on the high-speed TGV. The problem was that it didn't go all the way to Bordeaux--- the tracks are out there. We had to go to Libourne, then take a BUS to Bordeaux!!! When we got to Bordeaux, we got on our last leg of the trip. Train to Arcachon! AT LAST!!

Since we've been here, it has been busy but amazing. I had to wake up early to do RA stuff--- sitting outside waiting for people to arrive. It was beautiful outside all day, and I actually got a little color! I also had a chance to walk around town (SO CUTE!) and went to the grocery store. The grocery store was fun! I got some tasty cheese, some fresh veggies, fresh bread, olives, classy Hoegaarden in a can, and even soy milk! But I was told that to get tofu, I should go to the next town over where there is an organic market or something. If I have a chance to get there by train or something I will have to check that out!

Right now, we just finished eating group (the whole program together, as an opening dinner) and we are at the internet cafe. A cafe with beer and coffee and free internet, right by our house. It's perfect, and I will probably be here a lot!

On a side note, my french is already improving after talking to the couple that owns/lives at our house and finding my way around.

Next time, I promise to post pics!

still in North America...

Our trip started out smoothly. Maybe too smoothly. Cole drove me, Whitney and Ashley from Iowa City to Alex's house in Chicago (THANKS COLE! You are the best). Me and Cole said our goodbyes (holding back tears, but we made it...) then I headed out with the girls for some lunch and shopping in Chicago. A nice little afternoon. In the morning, we woke up, my global phone came in the mail with plenty of time to spare, and we took a cab to the airport.

Bags all under 50 lbs, perfect. Through security with no hiccups. Calmly waiting at the gate for our Chicago-Montreal flight, watching Lost and Glee, when we realized a fatal flaw in the plan. Our flight was delayed, meaning we would only have 30 minutes (or less?) to get off the plane in Montreal, through customs, back through security and onto the Paris flight. I made a call to Air Canada customer service and probably encountered the most incompetent person of my life (I only wish I remembered her name for my extensive complaint).

When I asked about our flight problems, she immediately rebooked all 4 of us on a flight through Toronto to Paris. She assured me that we would have 1 hr 20 minutes to make the connection. Here we were, thinking all was well in the world and that we would make it to Paris the next morning.

FALSE ALARM. As the flight approached, my dad (thanks dad! for being vigilant) informed me that we had not 1 hr 20 minutes, but only 20 minutes to make the connection. Apparently, the lovely customer service woman was unaware of the problems caused by TIME ZONES. Alas, we had to choose between staying in Chicago, and flying to Toronto with the chance of the plane being delayed and being able to make the connection. We decided to take our chances.

On the plane to Toronto, the flight attendants gave us a message from the pilot-- get your bags after customs and see the connections desk for flight vouchers. Ashley was worried that she would lose money on the train pass she bought. She needed to use it by today-- Thursday-- before turning 26 and becoming ineligible for the youth pass.

In Toronto, we were given false hope AGAIN by Air Canada customer service (incompetent #2), who told us we could connect to London, then to Paris. But alas, at the flight desk, we were told the flight was full. The result was 4 generally disgruntled and exhausted future lawyers.

But in the end, we finally encountered a kind woman at the flight desk who sympathized with our plight. She gave us 2 free rooms at the Holiday Inn Select near the Toronto airport, plus breakfast and lunch vouchers. We are about to use the free lunch vouchers as I speak. So, all in all, the hotel is nice, with comfy beds and delicious food. Not a bad consolation prize.

More updates to come-- lets see if we can make it out of North America today! Flight to Montreal at 4, then to Paris at 8. We can only hope that our string of misfortunes is over.